Paul said: “This book isn’t about the modern era of football with its all-seater stadia, corporate hospitality and foreign imports.

“This is about the days before Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon and Monday night kick offs in order to fit with the worldwide television audience.

“It is about the halcyon days of the game prior to billionaire owners from around the globe, astronomical transfer fees and sky high wages.

“It’s about terracing and passion, half-time Bovril, peanut sellers and muddy pitches when the FA Cup was king.”

No matter how the structure and finances of the game have changed, the joy of winning has always been exactly the same, and that goes for promotion back to where the club and its fans believe they belong.

Paul has worked out that United have spent 75% of their time in the top tier.

“Promotion has always been played out to capacity or near capacity gates and there has always been great joy when the club has gone back to the top level,” he said.

United’s first promotion was in 1898, when they took 45 points from their 30-game season and within seven years had won the league championship as they entered a period of national domination.

The 1948 promotion team featured players like Joe Harvey, Frank Brennan, Jackie Milburn - top scorer with 20 goals - and Len Shackleton.

More than 66,000 saw the promotion-clinching 4-2 home win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Promotion in 1965 was achieved with 1948 captain Harvey as manager.

As in 1948, promotion was won at Easter, with a home 2-0 win over Bolton - whose centre forward Wyn Davies was to later join United - before a crowd of almost 60,000. Top scorer was Bill McGarry with 16.

In 1984 the promotion push was driven by the attacking flair of Keegan (27 goals) , Peter Beardsley (20) and Chris Waddle (18).

With three points for a win, United totaled 80 points.

In 1993, the club once again had a former promotion captain, Kevin Keegan, as manager.

The team set a record of 11 straight wins from the start of the season and ended with 96 points.

Paul said: “The ecstasy of past years will the same on Saturday before a capacity crowd.”